http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/koers.v79i3.2196

It is a great pleasure to present this special number entitled Nuances in the Philosophy of the Cosmonomic Idea to our Koers readers, the Reformational scholarly community and special science practitioners.

This issue is organised around a perceptive article of the same title in which Marinus Dirk Stafleu comments on Danie Strauss's Philosophy: Discipline of the disciplines (see Cameron 2009; Griffioen 2013; Strauss 2009). The latter's stimulating book, published in 2009, further develops and critically updates Herman Dooyeweerd's Philosophy of the Cosmonomic Idea (PCI). Stafleu's article highlights some differences between his own, Strauss's and Dooyeweerd's interpretation of the PCI and points to the importance of artefacts and technology in his own exploration of the reformational project.

Following a suggestion by Bruce Wearne, Koers invited scholars to respond to Stafleu's article. The replies by Andrew Basden, Maarten Verkerk and Danie Strauss are published here.

Basden, in his article Understanding artefacts related to human aspects: The case of information technology and systems, analyses Stafleu's discussion of artefacts that are differentiated by reference to the aspect onto which the technical activity is projected; unfortunately, Stafleu's discussion is restricted to the six pre-human aspects. In response, Basden considers information and communication technology as a kind of artefact directed at the lingual, a human aspect. He further outlines how Dooyeweerd's theory of modal aspects can be used in studying information technology and computer systems, while also mentioning how this study may inform Dooyeweerdian philosophy itself.

Verkerk's contribution as a philosopher-practitioner pays tribute to both Stafleu and Strauss and emphasizes the importance of the availability of Christian philosophical concepts in designing technology. In The dual challenge of Christian philosophy: How to make philosophical ideas and concepts available for engineers? he applies philosophy-based tools to engineering practice.

In the fourth and last article of this issue, Systematic considerations within the philosophy of the Cosmonomic Idea, Danie Strauss shows how many of the apparent differences between himself and Stafleu can be understood to be terminological differences. Strauss emphasises the value of Stafleu's elaboration of particular human skills characterised by different modal aspects.

This issue of Koers not only offers Stafleu's many thoughtful insights as it provokes further refined scholarly work, but also intends to honour his significant long-term contribution (refer to Appendix 1) to Christian reflection in both the special sciences and philosophy.